Assessing the Impact of Organophosphorus Pesticides (OPPs) on Aquatic Ecosystems: A Review

Organophosphate pesticides (OPPs) are widely used chemicals with significant applications in agriculture, public health, and industry. Despite their utility, the extensive use of OPPs raises pressing concerns about their environmental persistence and impact on non-target organisms. This review explores the environmental distribution, toxicity, and detection methodologies associated with OPPs, emphasizing their ecological and public health implications. OPPs, characterized by their carbon-phosphorus (C-P) linkage and high chemical stability, are prone to pseudo-persistence in aquatic ecosystems, adversely affecting non-target plants and animals. Acute and chronic exposure to OPPs disrupts acetylcholinesterase activity, leading to toxicity in humans and wildlife, and is linked to serious health conditions such as neurotoxicity, endocrine disruption, and carcinogenesis. Key advancements in analytical techniques, including spectroscopy and biosensing methods, have improved OPP residue detection across various matrices, such as water, soils, and biological tissues. Novel approaches like immunoassays and diffuse reflectance spectrophotometry demonstrate potential for enhanced efficiency, though limitations in recovery rates remain. The article further highlights the significance of OPPs such as trichlorfon and diazinon while cautioning against more hazardous compounds like chlorpyrifos and malathion. The need for innovative detection methods and mitigation strategies is underscored, with a call for interdisciplinary efforts to address environmental contamination and health risks associated with OPPs. This review contributes to the understanding of OPP distribution and toxicity, advocating.